You Need These Coast Mole Facts In Your Brain
Hi there! If you've landed on this website, you're clearly looking for mole information! This month we'll go over the Coast mole, also known as the Pacific mole. This particular mole only lives in the western United States, so if you live outside of this region, chances are your mole is not a Coast mole. If you're on the West coast, this could be your mole!
Coast Mole Scientific Name and other Taxonomic Fun!
The Coast mole's scientific name is Scapanus orarius. The genus name is the same as that of the Townsend's mole, and it derives from skapenus, meaning "digger". This genus contains all three moles of the west coast, and indicate their close relationship. The name orarius means "of the coast" and refers the this mole's geographic range, which is of course, the Western coast of North America.
Coast Mole Range
As the name makes rather plainly, this mole occurs on the coast, the Western coast, to be exact. According to Wikipedia, this range extends from BC, Canada, south to parts of Northern California. The most inland portion of the Coast mole's range extends east into Idaho, but the overall distribution is in Washington state, Oregon, and northern California. It's range overlaps with the Townsend's mole (Scapanus townsendii) in Washington and Oregon, and with the Broad-footed mole (Scapanus latimanus) from southern Oregon and further south through California.
Coast Mole Lifespan
The exact lifespan of the Coast mole has not been studied too extensively, but based on Schaefer (1978)1's teeth wear model for determining relative age of moles, 3 to 4 years is likely the average lifespan, which is similar to that of other moles.
Coast Mole Physical Description and Species Characteristics
The Coast mole is an average looking mole, with a length of 133 to 190 mm long, and dark gray fur. They have the usual two spade front feet for digging, and a pink naked nose that is plain. Their tail is naked. Where they overlap with the Townsend's mole, they can be told apart by size. As this page suggests, you can hold the mole up to a dollar bill. The Coast mole is about the length of a dollar bill, the Townsend's mole is much longer than the dollar bill.
Coast Mole feeding behavior
Like most moles, earthworms make up most of their diet. Insects and other arthropods make up the rest of the diet, along with slugs and snails. Like other moles, they burrow for their prey in tunnels that are closer to the surface. They do not eat vegetation.
Coast Mole Habitat Preferences
These moles occupy a wide diversity of habitats, more so than the related Townsend's mole with which their territories can overlap. According to ADW, they have a preference for Douglas fir forests, but can adapt to any habitat with soil soft enough to dig through. Recently developed land, meadows, farm land, forests of diverse types, and lawns in suburban areas can all provide homes for Coast moles.
Coast Mole Reproduction and Social Behavior
As with other moles, female moles produce one litter a year. Mating occurs between January to March, and birth occurs around May. They have 2 to 4 pups, but according to ADW, gestation is unknown. The young are independent between July to August. As with most moles, they are solitary animals. Male moles will build interconnecting tunnels in early spring that overlap with the ranges of female moles.
Conclusion
As one can see, Coast moles are a rather typical mole of the Western United States. They are common, and adaptable and share most of the same traits as other Scapanus moles of the Western US.
If you have some of these moles in your backyard or garden that you are trying to get rid of humanely feel free to check out my posts on Plants That Repel Moles and and my review of the Vekibee Sonic Mole Repeller.
Don't forget my guide on how to Get The Best Out of Sonic Mole Repellers, too.
Stay tuned in the future for more information and facts about moles!
Schaefer, V. 1978. Aspects of habitat selection in the coast mole (Scapanus orarius True), in British Columbia. Unpublished Ph.D Dissertation, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia: 205.
Animal Diversity Web [ADW] Coast Mole